The Loaded Spoon, Freehold, NJ:
A Restaurant Review
Renaissance Plaza
108 Shanck Rd
Freehold, NJ
(732) 813-8700
Website
The Loaded Spoon: Restaurant Highlights
Fare: New American
Price: Very Expensive
Food Quality: Above average for the Western Monmouth County area.
Service: Professional, welcoming, and attentive.
Ambiance/Decor: Upscale, modern, vibrant with Instagram photo quality decor.
Overall Rating: 2 1/2 Stars.
Note: Four-star Rating System from 1/2 Star = Poor to 4 stars = Best in Class
Noise Level: High - Very High
Dress: Upscale Casual (No sweat suits, hoodies, flip-flops, hats, or cut off t-shirts)
Recommended For: Diners who enjoy an upscale, modern, vibrant setting for late night dinner, drinks, and dancing.
Not Recommended For: Diners who prefer "Old World" fine dining or a low-key BYOB setting with a traditional, casual, family style menu
Recommended dishes: When available, The Tagliolini Vongole (littleneck clams, clams strips, garlic, olive oil, chili flake, and a biscotti and pecorino crumble); The Pork Trio w/ pork tenderloin, chorizo hash, bacon honey vinaigrette, sweet potato puree, and a potato haystack; and The 16 oz Prime Ribeye.
Liquor: Full bar service featuring creative, hand-crafted specialty cocktails, and a variety of craft beers and beers on draft, with a good selection of wines by the glass and bottle.
Restaurant Review
The Loaded Spoon, located inside iPlay America, an indoor theme park, is an upscale dining and nightlife experience, popular with a younger crowd who enjoy late-night dining with DJ music and dancing.
If you're in the Freehold, west Monmouth County area and are looking for an upscale, modern setting for late-night dinner, drinks, and dancing with friends, this is it.
It's an energetic dining scene to celebrate a vibrant special occasion.
The Loaded Spoon is huge..... 7,000 square feet, with seating for 275+ in multiple attractive dining areas, and the bar. Once you enter you immediately sense this is a fun, chic, dining scene with Instagram photo-quality decor. The dining room options include a large indoor garden, a conversational-style bar, an area with exclusive captain's tables overlooking the pastry kitchen, and more.
For an upscale nightlife experience, you can plan on dancing at the Loaded Spoon on Friday and Saturday evenings.
The noise level can be a bit loud at times with background and DJ music pumped up throughout the dining areas, making quiet conversation difficult, especially during peak times when the rooms fill up.
The Loaded Spoon is managed by Food and Beverage Director Christopher DeLuca, and Executive Chef Neil West.
Chef West has received many accomplishments during his culinary career including recognition from The Chaine de Rotisseurs for his exceptional eight-course degustation menu.
Chef West's recent culinary talents include owner/chef of Rare Restaurant in Bradley Beach, and before coming to the Loaded Spoon worked under acclaimed NJ chef David Burke in several high-end culinary positions.
The kitchen serves a well-executed menu of elevated dishes including appetizers, pastas, prime steaks, seafood, and tasty, artfully presented desserts. They also offer shareable dishes (#GetLoaded selections) for three to five people. The serving begins with a unique complimentary offering of flatbread crackers accompanied by a small bowl of tasty whipped, house-made, ricotta.
Service is professional, welcoming, and attentive, though spotty at times. An added plus is the wait staff confirming each item ordered to ensure accuracy before submitting the order.
Brunch is offered on weekends with a selection of creative options.
The restaurant doubles as a nightlife destination with DJs every Friday and Saturday from 8 pm – 12 am.
Open six days/week, closed on Tuesday. Open for dinner Wednesday through Monday and for Lunch/brunch Saturday and Sunday.
Reservations are recommended especially on Friday & Saturday evenings after 7 pm.
Updated March 2024
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